Monster Hunter can be a bit of a daunting experience for new (or even experienced) gamers. The fans of the series can be an insular group and there is a ton of data to digest. Monsters, tactics, weak points, weapons, and buttons to push are just the tip of the iceberg. One of my favorite things to hear when I introduce new gamers to this game series is, “Why does my guy move so slow!?” The game often overwhelms most gamers outside of Japan where this franchise may outsell paper.
It takes a lot to get used to and it gets even trickier when players go online. The number of experienced gamers who have been playing this game for years often have little patience left to teach new players even though teaching new players will help them have more people to play with.
So how can we bridge the knowledge and experience gap for this complicated franchise?
Enter Roy Blakely and Sarah O’Donnell.
These two gamers began a podcast a little over a year ago called, “My Fair Hunter.” The goal of this podcast was to show the experiences and problems someone who had never played a game like Monster Hunter would have. Each week, Roy and Sarah play Monster Hunter Tri and show people how different weapons work and how the Monster Hunter community expects people to act in a party online.
After nearly a year, these two gamers have taken their experiences and put them into a guide book. This guide, meant for new players, attempts to acclimate players into the Monster Hunter universe. While nothing can take the place of hands on experience, this guide attempts to explain certain norms and expectations more seasoned players will have.
The guide is available in print for $35.00 and PDF for $9.00 at their website. In addition to the guide, there is a collection of art drawn by Sarah O’Donnell who is responsible for the comic called Rumbirds available separately or in bundles with the book. A review of the guide itself should be coming in the next couple days.
